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US President Donald Trump speaks to the press aboard Air Force One en route to the US following his official visit with President Xi Jinping in China on Friday. Photo: Reuters
United States

Trump says Isis second in command Abu-Bilal ‘eliminated from battlefield’

American and Nigerian forces had assassinated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a ‘flawlessly executed mission’, the US president said on Truth Social.

Middle East

Lebanon and Israel extend ceasefire despite new strikes

Israel-Gaza war

‘No nation’: Palestinians in Gaza mark anniversary of 1948 mass expulsion

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Middle East

US casts first day of Israel-Lebanon talks as ‘positive’

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues in Lebanon as officials hold high-stakes talks ahead of Sunday deadline.

Flares fired by Israeli forces in Arnoun, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Flares fired by Israeli forces in Arnoun, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump says Xi offered help on Iran as China seeks to keep Hormuz open

Chinese leader’s overture underscores how global issues are increasingly shaping US-China diplomacy and trade talks.

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US, Israel war on Iran

UAE denies Israel’s Netanyahu made secret visit during Iran war

Netanyahu’s office claims a ‘historic breakthrough’, but Abu Dhabi dismisses reports of any clandestine meeting.

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Vietnam

Vietnam asks US to let crucial oil tanker slip past Hormuz blockade

The ship’s destination, Nghi Son, can process 200,000 barrels a day – meaning the 1.99 million barrel load can keep it going for 10 days.

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Agios Fanourios I arrives in Iraq’s territorial waters off Basra for loading on April 17. Photo: Reuters
Agios Fanourios I arrives in Iraq’s territorial waters off Basra for loading on April 17. Photo: Reuters
Middle East

Israel strikes Lebanon as 380 reported killed since April 17 ceasefire

Hezbollah leader vows to turn battlefield into ‘hell’ as Lebanon and Israel get set for more talks in Washington.

US, Israel war on Iran

China presses Pakistan to deepen Iran mediation ahead of Trump-Xi talks

Wang Yi highlights Strait of Hormuz security and regional stability as Middle East tensions loom over Beijing talks.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump rejects ‘garbage’ Iran peace plan before heading to China

The US president will probably seek help from China’s Xi Jinping given the lack of progress on ending the conflict with Iran.

A US Air Force plane lands in Beijing ahead of a visit by President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP
Israel-Gaza war

Israel pushes ahead with Eichmann-style tribunal for October 7 attackers

Israeli lawmakers set up a special tribunal and allow for the death penalty for Hamas-led 2023 attackers.

The 1962 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was broadcast live on television. Photo: AFP
The 1962 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was broadcast live on television. Photo: AFP
South Korea

South Korea cautious on blaming Iran for ship strike ahead of US-China summit

Seoul has footage of the May 4 attack on the HMM Namu but analysts say it is biding its time, hoping ‘the dust will settle’.

2026 Xi-Trump summit

From ‘Taco’ to ‘Nacho’: Wall Street’s new buzzword as Trump preps for China trip

Traders’ catch-cry ‘Not a chance Hormuz opens’ replaces ‘Trump always chickens out’ as grim predictions swirl over gridlock, oil prices.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US tells banks to flag suspected Iranian money-laundering networks

Banks are asked to look out for oil labelled ‘Malaysian blend’ to disguise its Iranian origin and missing or falsified shipping documents.

Vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. Photo: ISNA via AFP
Middle East

Israeli soldiers jailed for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

Viral photo shows an Israeli soldier with his arm around statue, holding a cigarette up to its mouth.

An IDF soldier appearing to put a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary. Photo: Reuters
An IDF soldier appearing to put a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary. Photo: Reuters
Israel

Israel’s election may end the Netanyahu era but not the ‘forever wars’

After nearly two decades and six terms in office, Israel’s prime minister could be on his way out. But little looks likely to change.

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Middle East

Jailed Iran Nobel laureate transferred to hospital after medical crisis

Narges Mohammadi’s transfer comes after days of pleading by her family and others who described her condition as critical.

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US, Israel war on Iran

‘Playing games’: Trump calls Iran’s response to US peace proposal ‘unacceptable’

Both sides remain far apart as Tehran demands war reparations and control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran state TV.

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The USS Rafael Peralta enforcing a US maritime blockade on April 24. Photo: US Navy via AFP
The USS Rafael Peralta enforcing a US maritime blockade on April 24. Photo: US Navy via AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Netanyahu says war ‘not over’ until Iran’s uranium is physically removed

Israeli leader says nuclear material must be ‘taken out’, as US-Iran ceasefire remains tenuous.

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Israel-Gaza war

Spanish, Brazilian flotilla activists released after detention in Israel

Israel deported two activists it detained near Greece for leading an aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran responds to US proposal, as Qatari tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

The response, sent via Pakistan, focuses on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping in the waterway.

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An Iranian walks past an anti-US and Israel mural in a street in Tehran on Friday. Photo: EPA
US, Israel war on Iran

US-Iran war no closer to ending as Gulf clashes flare

Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago.

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A US ship receives fuel at sea last month, during a fragile ceasefire in the US-Iran war. Photo: US Navy via AFP
A US ship receives fuel at sea last month, during a fragile ceasefire in the US-Iran war. Photo: US Navy via AFP
South Korea

South Korea draws Gulf oil storage interest as Hormuz stays closed

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE are among major oil producers looking to South Korea’s underground storage facilities, officials say.

US, Israel war on Iran

New Israel-Lebanon talks to try to curb Hezbollah influence in region: Rubio

Marco Rubio says Washington is also awaiting Iran’s response to a new US proposal to end the conflict in the region.

China energy security

China’s shipping firms brace for a new ‘era of chaos’ as Iran war drags on

Chinese shipping giants are signing long contracts and rejigging their networks, as they hedge against prolonged disruptions to global trade routes.

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The oil tanker Odessa, carrying carrying crude from the United Arab Emirates, navigates the waters near South Korea after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Reuters
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